Continue with sections 8-12, see below if you need directions.
4. ATP MAKE UPS
Activity 10: Annotating and Questioning the Text
You should question the text in your second reading, “reading against the grain” and “playing the disbelieving (or doubting) game.” As you read, look for claims and assertions Rifkin makes. Does he back them up? Do you agree with them?
As you read, do the following:
1. Underline (with a double underline) or highlight in one color the thesis and major claims or assertions made in the article.
2. Underline (with a single underline) or highlight in a second color the evidence in support of the claims and assertions.
3. Write your comments and questions in the margins.
After reading the article again, answer the following questions:
1. What is the thesis of Rifkin’s article?
2. Does Rifkin make any claims that you disagree with? What are they?
3. Do any claims lack support?
Activity 11: Analyzing Stylistic Choices—Loaded Words: Language That Puts a Slant on Reality
1. Paragraph 4 of the article says
Studies on pigs’ social behavior funded by McDonald’s at Purdue University, for example, have found that they crave affection and are easily depressed if isolated or denied playtime with each other. The lack of mental and physical stimuli can result in deterioration of health.
The first sentence uses words associated with human behavior such as “affection” and “playtime,” while the second sentence uses formal scientific words such as “stimuli” and “deterioration.” What is the effect of this movement from emotional to scientific? Try rewriting the first sentence to make it sound more scientific.
2. Paragraph 7 of the article says
Researchers were stunned recently by findings (published in the journal Science) on the conceptual abilities of New Caledonian crows. Because scientific experiments are carefully planned and controlled, scientists are rarely “stunned” by their results.
What is the effect of using the word “stunned” here? What are some other words or phrases that might fit here that would sound more scientific? Try rewriting this sentence.
3. Paragraph 10 of the article says
An orangutan named Chantek who lives at the Atlanta Zoo used a mirror to groom his teeth and adjust his sunglasses.
“Groom” is a word that has different meanings when applied to humans and animals. If animals groom each other, it usually means that one cleans the other’s fur or searches the fur to remove fleas and other parasites. It is part of social bonding. If a human grooms a horse, it means combing and brushing the animal. What does “groom” mean when applied to humans? In what sense is the word used here? Rewrite the sentence using other language to make it more scientific.
Activity 12: Questions About the Rifkin Article
Answer the following questions about the Rifkin article:
1. How would you describe the style of this article? Is it formal? Informal? Academic? Scientific? Conversational?
2. What is the effect of giving the names of most of the animals involved in the experiments but not the names of the scientists?
3. Throughout most of the article, Rifkin refers to “researchers” and “scientists.” In paragraph 13, however, he directly quotes Stephen M. Siviy, whom he refers to as “a behavioral scientist at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania.” What is the effect of this sudden specificity?
What is the effect of all the rhetorical questions in paragraph 15, followed by “such questions are being raised” in the next paragraph?
Daily Learning Target(s):
By the end of class, students will be able to...
1. analyze text as evidenced by annotations and peer review.
HW Due Today:
Homework:
Due Fri 10/20:
FS CH 9 Annotations
Important Deadlines/Reminders:
Come to class excited and prepared- have your books EVERY DAY!
Agenda:
1. Peer Review CH 9 RP
2. FS CH 9 Quiz
3. Article: "A Change of Heart About Animals" by by Jeremy Rifki
4. ATP MAKE UPS
Activity 10: Annotating and Questioning the Text
You should question the text in your second reading, “reading against the grain” and “playing the disbelieving (or doubting) game.” As you read, look for claims and assertions Rifkin makes. Does he back them up? Do you agree with them?
As you read, do the following:
1. Underline (with a double underline) or highlight in one color the thesis and major claims or assertions made in the article.
2. Underline (with a single underline) or highlight in a second color the evidence in support of the claims and assertions.
3. Write your comments and questions in the margins.
After reading the article again, answer the following questions:
1. What is the thesis of Rifkin’s article?
2. Does Rifkin make any claims that you disagree with? What are they?
3. Do any claims lack support?
Activity 11: Analyzing Stylistic Choices—Loaded Words: Language That
Puts a Slant on Reality
1. Paragraph 4 of the article says
Studies on pigs’ social behavior funded by McDonald’s at Purdue University, for example, have found that they crave affection and are easily depressed if isolated or denied playtime with each other. The lack of mental and physical stimuli can result in deterioration of health.
The first sentence uses words associated with human behavior such as “affection” and “playtime,” while the second sentence uses formal scientific words such as “stimuli” and “deterioration.” What is the effect of this movement from emotional to scientific? Try rewriting the first sentence to make it sound more scientific.
2. Paragraph 7 of the article says
Researchers were stunned recently by findings (published in the journal Science) on the conceptual abilities of New Caledonian crows. Because scientific experiments are carefully planned and controlled, scientists are rarely “stunned” by their results.
What is the effect of using the word “stunned” here? What are some other words or phrases that might fit here that would sound more scientific? Try rewriting this sentence.
3. Paragraph 10 of the article says
An orangutan named Chantek who lives at the Atlanta Zoo used a mirror to groom his teeth and adjust his sunglasses.
“Groom” is a word that has different meanings when applied to humans and animals. If animals groom each other, it usually means that one cleans the other’s fur or searches the fur to remove fleas and other parasites. It is part of social bonding. If a human grooms a horse, it means combing and brushing the animal. What does “groom” mean when applied to humans? In what sense is the word used here? Rewrite the sentence using other language to make it more scientific.
Activity 12: Questions About the Rifkin Article
Answer the following questions about the Rifkin article:
1. How would you describe the style of this article? Is it formal? Informal? Academic? Scientific? Conversational?
2. What is the effect of giving the names of most of the animals involved in the experiments but not the names of the scientists?
3. Throughout most of the article, Rifkin refers to “researchers” and “scientists.” In paragraph 13, however, he directly quotes Stephen M. Siviy, whom he refers to as “a behavioral scientist at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania.” What is the effect of this sudden specificity?
What is the effect of all the rhetorical questions in paragraph 15, followed by “such questions are being raised” in the next paragraph?